The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy invites the oil companies on the Norwegian continental shelf to nominate blocks and/or block combinations they would like to include in the 18 ^th> licensing round.

The nominations can include both the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea. The companies can nominate blocks in all areas open for petroleum activities south of 68 degrees north. Deadline for the nominations are 1 August 2003.

The nominations will be part of the decision basis when the Ministry will decide which areas to include in the 18 ^th> licensing round. The announcement of blocks will be in the second half of 2003, and licenses will be awarded before summer 2004.